POLICE say an operation to cut down on car crime in Frodsham and Helsby has yielded results.

Officers patrolled the main roads into the area at key times last week, checking number plates and making stop checks.

Sgt Pete Minghella of the Community Action Team (CAT) said the operation was set up in response to car thefts and thefts from vehicles.

He said: 'It was almost every day that we were getting a report of a theft from a car. There was only one theft last week, as far as I am aware. That was a theft from a vehicle outside the times the intelligence pointed us to.'

Officers used automatic number plate re-cognition in the operation and several marked patrols made stop checks in the area.

'We're looking at resurrecting it if and when the need arises,' said Sgt Minghella.

'We still find that people are leaving bags and valuables in their cars which are a prime target, so we need them to help us by removing such items.'